Cam Thomas Signs One-Year, $6M Qualifying Offer With Nets

[RealGM Wiretap]

Cam Thomas has decided to sign the one-year, $6 million qualifying offer to remain with the Brooklyn Nets, which ends his restricted free agency. Thomas is represented by Ron Shade and Alex Saratsis of Octagon.

Thomas and the Nets were unable to find common ground on a long-term contract. Brooklyn offered a two-year, $30 million contract with a team option for Year 2, or a one-year, $9.5 million deal where he would waive his no-trade clause. Thomas will retain a no-trade clause with the qualifying offer.

The Nets were one of the only teams with cap space this offseason, which limited the market for Thomas. Thomas averaged 22.9 points in 31.4 minutes over the past two seasons.

Thomas will now become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

Via Shams Charania/ESPN

[ecuhus1981]

Nothing personal toward Cam, I hope the Nets don't play him at all, now that he's signed the QO. We can't trade him without his consent, we don't have Bird rights to match him next summer, only capspace if we choose to outbid or be his choice. Undersized SGs who are poor at defense and passing are a very low value commodity in the league on 2025. If Thomas thinks he is worth more than Sexton, Simons, Poole or Powell, guys who moved teams this summer for pennies, then he is mistaken. Those dudes are more valuable than him on both ends. He's gonna have to learn the hard way, empty calorie scorers don't have a market in the NBA.

[hyberx]

Same situation with Kuminga who will take the QO too. With a 2nd year team option, you might as well just bet on yourself. If you get injuried, they will cut you anyway with that 2nd year team option. So it's taking 9 mil less now and bet on a bigger contract and longer terms. More teams with cap space next year.

[Not2BeBothered]

Same situation with Kuminga who will take the QO too. With a 2nd year team option, you might as well just bet on yourself. If you get injuried, they will cut you anyway with that 2nd year team option. So it's taking 9 mil less now and bet on a bigger contract and longer terms. More teams with cap space next year.

Not that same situations. The 4 players who are restricted free agents are all in messed up situations. GSW would like to keep kuminga but kuminga wants to prove himself and there’s no real opportunity to do it on that team. Nets don’t want Thomas, regardless of what deal he signs and Nets don’t have any obligation to play him minutes. Grimes balled out last year but did so when the top four scoring options went down, since then they drafted a player at his position with the 3rd overall pick. Giddey situation makes no sense, idk what he’s asking for but Chicago should pay him 30M a year.

[objectivefan]

Nothing personal toward Cam, I hope the Nets don't play him at all, now that he's signed the QO. We can't trade him without his consent, we don't have Bird rights to match him next summer, only capspace if we choose to outbid or be his choice. Undersized SGs who are poor at defense and passing are a very low value commodity in the league on 2025. If Thomas thinks he is worth more than Sexton, Simons, Poole or Powell, guys who moved teams this summer for pennies, then he is mistaken. Those dudes are more valuable than him on both ends. He's gonna have to learn the hard way, empty calorie scorers don't have a market in the NBA.

so why offer him the QO if you have no plans of playing him?

He's gonna have to learn the hard way, empty calorie scorers don't have a market in the NBA.
- you signed him to teach him a lesson?

[Sports_Prophet]

Same situation with Kuminga who will take the QO too. With a 2nd year team option, you might as well just bet on yourself. If you get injuried, they will cut you anyway with that 2nd year team option. So it's taking 9 mil less now and bet on a bigger contract and longer terms. More teams with cap space next year.

Not that same situations. The 4 players who are restricted free agents are all in messed up situations. GSW would like to keep kuminga but kuminga wants to prove himself and there’s no real opportunity to do it on that team. Nets don’t want Thomas, regardless of what deal he signs and Nets don’t have any obligation to play him minutes. Grimes balled out last year but did so when the top four scoring options went down, since then they drafted a player at his position with the 3rd overall pick. Giddey situation makes no sense, idk what he’s asking for but Chicago should pay him 30M a year.

Your statement is asinine! The Bulls should.not pay a player like Giddy who is a terrible defender bad shooter and who had a good 5 weeks 30 plus million. You don't give out bad contracts just because other teams have done that! All your other points are essentially pointless. If the Nets don't want Cam then they should not play him? How does that make any sense! Kuminga does not want to play with G State because he does not want to be with that organization! Grimes played well for the 76ers so I would assume that he will leave after this season! Maybe some of these players will ask for a buyout so they can sign with a contender!

[Pickled Prunes]

Nothing personal toward Cam, I hope the Nets don't play him at all, now that he's signed the QO. We can't trade him without his consent, we don't have Bird rights to match him next summer, only capspace if we choose to outbid or be his choice. Undersized SGs who are poor at defense and passing are a very low value commodity in the league on 2025. If Thomas thinks he is worth more than Sexton, Simons, Poole or Powell, guys who moved teams this summer for pennies, then he is mistaken. Those dudes are more valuable than him on both ends. He's gonna have to learn the hard way, empty calorie scorers don't have a market in the NBA.

so why offer him the QO if you have no plans of playing him?

He's gonna have to learn the hard way, empty calorie scorers don't have a market in the NBA.
- you signed him to teach him a lesson?

They can still move him next summer in a S&T, which is the most likely scenario if he gets anywhere near what he thinks he's worth.

[jigga_man]

Same situation with Kuminga who will take the QO too. With a 2nd year team option, you might as well just bet on yourself. If you get injuried, they will cut you anyway with that 2nd year team option. So it's taking 9 mil less now and bet on a bigger contract and longer terms. More teams with cap space next year.

Not that same situations. The 4 players who are restricted free agents are all in messed up situations. GSW would like to keep kuminga but kuminga wants to prove himself and there’s no real opportunity to do it on that team. Nets don’t want Thomas, regardless of what deal he signs and Nets don’t have any obligation to play him minutes. Grimes balled out last year but did so when the top four scoring options went down, since then they drafted a player at his position with the 3rd overall pick. Giddey situation makes no sense, idk what he’s asking for but Chicago should pay him 30M a year.

The Nets offered him multiple different contracts. Of course the Nets want him, but they want him at his current market value.

[Twinkie defense]

Weren't the Nets asking for a first round pick for him last trade deadline?

[Twinkie defense]

Nothing personal toward Cam, I hope the Nets don't play him at all, now that he's signed the QO. We can't trade him without his consent, we don't have Bird rights to match him next summer, only capspace if we choose to outbid or be his choice. Undersized SGs who are poor at defense and passing are a very low value commodity in the league on 2025. If Thomas thinks he is worth more than Sexton, Simons, Poole or Powell, guys who moved teams this summer for pennies, then he is mistaken. Those dudes are more valuable than him on both ends. He's gonna have to learn the hard way, empty calorie scorers don't have a market in the NBA.

so why offer him the QO if you have no plans of playing him?

He's gonna have to learn the hard way, empty calorie scorers don't have a market in the NBA.
- you signed him to teach him a lesson?

You offer him the QO so you maintain control over the asset, but apparently no one wanted to trade for Cam Thomas (or maybe Nets were asking for too much).

[NBA4Lyfe]

Cam is being punished with a low level blackballing for those comments he made on draymond greens podcast when it came to James harden having more influence with young guards than Steph curry

Any player who prefers harden is gonna be punished and slandered by the nba media. It’s why trae, tatum, sga became so hated overnight

[niha17]

this guy lost 2.5 mil to keep a no trade lol he should not even want to be there anyway

[dballislife]

remember when rozier was scoring 20 something on a terrible team and heat gave a 1st for him and see how it turned out lol...and how kuzma and poole put up 20s on terrible teams, and it turns out they suck lol

[Wildcat]

Is he playing 5D chess while I'm playing hopscotch? I literally cannot understand why taking the QO when there aren't many teams next season to offer him more.

[JFiasco]

Your statement is asinine! The Bulls should.not pay a player like Giddy who is a terrible defender bad shooter and who had a good 5 weeks 30 plus million. You don't give out bad contracts just because other teams have done that! All your other points are essentially pointless. If the Nets don't want Cam then they should not play him? How does that make any sense! Kuminga does not want to play with G State because he does not want to be with that organization! Grimes played well for the 76ers so I would assume that he will leave after this season! Maybe some of these players will ask for a buyout so they can sign with a contender!

Giddey 100% is worth 30 Mil

3 players in the regular season averaged 14/8/7 or higher
Jokic 29/12/10
Doncic 28/8/7
Giddey 14/8/7

If you reduce that to 12/7/6
Its a list of 7 guys
Giannis, Jokic, Doncic, Tatum, LBJ, Sabonis, Giddey
On that list, Giddey shot better from 3 than, LBJ, Tatum and Giannis.

If we reduce it to 12/5/5
We have 22 guys
guys like:

Brandon Ingram $36,016,200
Cade Cunningham $13,940,809
De'Aaron Fox $34,848,340
Dejounte Murray $28,000,000
Desmond Bane $34,005,250
Domantas Sabonis $42,338,812
Giannis Antetokounmpo $48,787,676
Jalen Johnson $4,514,280 Just signed a 5 yr 150M deal (30M/yr)
Jalen Williams $4,776,480 Just signed a 5 yr potential 287M deal
James Harden $35,600,000
Jayson Tatum $37,096,500
Jimmy Butler $48,798,677
Josh Giddey $8,352,367
Josh Hart $19,472,240
LeBron James $52,627,153
Luka Doncic $45,999,660
Nikola Jokic $55,224,526
RJ Barrett $27,705,357
Scottie Barnes $38,661,750
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander $38,333,050
Tyler Herro $31,000,000
Zion Williamson $39,446,090

The Average yearly salary is $32,940,328, as listed above.

Fun fact, Giddey is the YOUNGEST on that list!
Giddey is 22 years old!
In the next 3 seasons, do you think he won't improve his 3-point shooting?

Im not saying Giddey is better than any of these guys, but at 22 years old, he is a minimum 25M/yr guy

[Sports_Prophet]

Your statement is asinine! The Bulls should.not pay a player like Giddy who is a terrible defender bad shooter and who had a good 5 weeks 30 plus million. You don't give out bad contracts just because other teams have done that! All your other points are essentially pointless. If the Nets don't want Cam then they should not play him? How does that make any sense! Kuminga does not want to play with G State because he does not want to be with that organization! Grimes played well for the 76ers so I would assume that he will leave after this season! Maybe some of these players will ask for a buyout so they can sign with a contender!

Giddey 100% is worth 30 Mil

3 players in the regular season averaged 14/8/7 or higher
Jokic 29/12/10
Doncic 28/8/7
Giddey 14/8/7

If you reduce that to 12/7/6
Its a list of 7 guys
Giannis, Jokic, Doncic, Tatum, LBJ, Sabonis, Giddey
On that list, Giddey shot better from 3 than, LBJ, Tatum and Giannis.

If we reduce it to 12/5/5
We have 22 guys
guys like:

Brandon Ingram $36,016,200
Cade Cunningham $13,940,809
De'Aaron Fox $34,848,340
Dejounte Murray $28,000,000
Desmond Bane $34,005,250
Domantas Sabonis $42,338,812
Giannis Antetokounmpo $48,787,676
Jalen Johnson $4,514,280 Just signed a 5 yr 150M deal (30M/yr)
Jalen Williams $4,776,480 Just signed a 5 yr potential 287M deal
James Harden $35,600,000
Jayson Tatum $37,096,500
Jimmy Butler $48,798,677
Josh Giddey $8,352,367
Josh Hart $19,472,240
LeBron James $52,627,153
Luka Doncic $45,999,660
Nikola Jokic $55,224,526
RJ Barrett $27,705,357
Scottie Barnes $38,661,750
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander $38,333,050
Tyler Herro $31,000,000
Zion Williamson $39,446,090

The Average yearly salary is $32,940,328, as listed above.

Fun fact, Giddey is the YOUNGEST on that list!
Giddey is 22 years old!
In the next 3 seasons, do you think he won't improve his 3-point shooting?

Im not saying Giddey is better than any of these guys, but at 22 years old, he is a minimum 25M/yr guy

Stop pulling out worthless stats! I don't like talking sports with people who have never played any organized ball and they can only Google stats to try and validate their worthless points! How many ends are there on the basketball court? Giddy is a terrible defensive player, and a poor shooter and that is why he was traded! You are talking about he should get better but that does not take from the fact of what he is today! There are numerous players who don't get better! Also stop comparing other players contracts to Giddy who has never won anything or been an all-star! Also stop comparing players from other organizations that signed them to a bad contract! The Bulls don't need to overpay for another player who is not a star on any level! Do you know what a bad contract looks like. Its called P Will, J Carter, LBJ, and numerous players around the NBA! You make it seems as if 14, 8 6 are so great in today's NBA where teams mainly focus on scoring! You have to be joking!!

[Phantom1974]

Your statement is asinine! The Bulls should.not pay a player like Giddy who is a terrible defender bad shooter and who had a good 5 weeks 30 plus million. You don't give out bad contracts just because other teams have done that! All your other points are essentially pointless. If the Nets don't want Cam then they should not play him? How does that make any sense! Kuminga does not want to play with G State because he does not want to be with that organization! Grimes played well for the 76ers so I would assume that he will leave after this season! Maybe some of these players will ask for a buyout so they can sign with a contender!

Giddey 100% is worth 30 Mil

3 players in the regular season averaged 14/8/7 or higher
Jokic 29/12/10
Doncic 28/8/7
Giddey 14/8/7

If you reduce that to 12/7/6
Its a list of 7 guys
Giannis, Jokic, Doncic, Tatum, LBJ, Sabonis, Giddey
On that list, Giddey shot better from 3 than, LBJ, Tatum and Giannis.

If we reduce it to 12/5/5
We have 22 guys
guys like:

Brandon Ingram $36,016,200
Cade Cunningham $13,940,809
De'Aaron Fox $34,848,340
Dejounte Murray $28,000,000
Desmond Bane $34,005,250
Domantas Sabonis $42,338,812
Giannis Antetokounmpo $48,787,676
Jalen Johnson $4,514,280 Just signed a 5 yr 150M deal (30M/yr)
Jalen Williams $4,776,480 Just signed a 5 yr potential 287M deal
James Harden $35,600,000
Jayson Tatum $37,096,500
Jimmy Butler $48,798,677
Josh Giddey $8,352,367
Josh Hart $19,472,240
LeBron James $52,627,153
Luka Doncic $45,999,660
Nikola Jokic $55,224,526
RJ Barrett $27,705,357
Scottie Barnes $38,661,750
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander $38,333,050
Tyler Herro $31,000,000
Zion Williamson $39,446,090

The Average yearly salary is $32,940,328, as listed above.

Fun fact, Giddey is the YOUNGEST on that list!
Giddey is 22 years old!
In the next 3 seasons, do you think he won't improve his 3-point shooting?

Im not saying Giddey is better than any of these guys, but at 22 years old, he is a minimum 25M/yr guy

Stop pulling out worthless stats! I don't like talking sports with people who have never played any organized ball and they can only Google stats to try and validate their worthless points! How many ends are there on the basketball court? Giddy is a terrible defensive player, and a poor shooter and that is why he was traded! You are talking about he should get better but that does not take from the fact of what he is today! There are numerous players who don't get better! Also stop comparing other players contracts to Giddy who has never won anything or been an all-star! Also stop comparing players from other organizations that signed them to a bad contract! The Bulls don't need to overpay for another player who is not a star on any level! Do you know what a bad contract looks like. Its called P Will, J Carter, LBJ, and numerous players around the NBA! You make it seems as if 14, 8 6 are so great in today's NBA where teams mainly focus on scoring! You have to be joking!!

I agree, he's a very good player on a bad team, but put him on a good team and his flaws are exposed, that's why OKC moved on. Jack of all trades, master of none.
Plenty of examples of bad contracts out there, Bulls got burnt by Williams a year or so back.
Best case scenario is $90 million over 4 years with an option on 4th. Or $100 with team option on 4th.